Historians are of the view that the real history of kashmir begings with the reign of Ashoka.He conquered kashmir in about 250B.C and sent missionaries to introduce Buddhism in this land.Kalhana narrates in this Rajtarangini that."Hinduism went side by side with Buddhism.Father and son and kings and ministers sometimes had different faiths."in Kashmir Ashoka set up viharas and stupas at Vitstata and Suskaletra.He also got repaired an old shiva temple of vijayesvra,and built two new temples called Ashokesvara.Heb found a town named srinagar,there three miles away from the modern city of srinagar.
After the death of Ashoka kashmir again became independent and was ruled by his son Jaluka.According to kalhana,he was a great soldier who freed kashmir of the Mlechhas and conquered the country uopto kannuj.He is also said to have reformed administrative system in kashmir.He increased the member of heads of department from 7 to 18 which included the judge,the revenue suerintendent, and the treasure ,the commander of armey ,the envoy the puruhita and the astrologer.it is said that he brought from kannuja,"people of all four castes in his own land and particularly righteous men acquainted with the legal procedure."
After the death of Ashoka ,Buddhism had begun decline in india and so also in kashmir .Hinduism with its ceremonies and rituals of sacrifice was restored.Jaluka's call to ,"people of all four castes,"particularly to those who were well versed in legal procedure i.e, Brahmans indicates the restoration of hindu practices.But the form of hinduism which flourished in kashmir under jyestharudra and Bhutesa,at sirinagari and Nandikshera respecttively.He is said to have demolished Buddhist vihara but later adopted a concilliatory attitude towords Buddhism.
